Gemstone finger ring

ABSTRACT

A gemstone setting includes prongs which project upwardly from a first ring member and flare outwardly relative to the ring member to hold a gemstone. The prongs allow a second ring to be worn in contact with or in close proximity to the first ring member with the gemstone held by the prongs disposed above and spaced apart from the second ring member. In an alternative embodiment, a third ring member is provided with the second and the third ring members disposed on opposite sides of the first ring member and proximate to the first ring member. The prongs support the gemstone above and spaced away from the second and third ring members allowing the second and third members to be worn close to the first ring member.

This application claims priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/552,893 filed Mar. 11, 2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of jewelry and more particularly, to a gemstone finger ring having a setting which is specially adapted for use with a wedding band.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of jewelry finger ring settings for gemstones includes various devices including the following U.S. patents.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,393 to Karabet Takessian for a Gem Stone Setting for Articles of Jewelry includes a facet-cut gemstone having a girdle and a culet. The gemstone is secured by connecting members which bear on the girdle of the gemstone with the culet of the gemstone inserted in a recess formed in a generally circular finger ring. The connecting members have generally vertically oriented and straight portions which project upwardly from the finger ring to the girdle of the gemstone.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,613 to Torrance D. Hoover, et al. for a Gem Setting Having Notched Prongs includes a base and a plurality of projecting prongs. Each of the prongs has a notch which is shaped for holding a portion of the girdle of a gem such that the upper portion of the notch extends over the crown of the gem. Each prong has an upper portion which can be bent over the crown of the gem to secure the gem in the setting.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,115 to Zuri Mesica, for a Gem Setting includes a gem retainer and a base. The gem retainer is in the form of a collar which has an upper surface, a lower surface and a central cavity. The central cavity is shaped to receive and retain a gemstone. A plurality of prongs projects from the upper surface to hold the gemstone within the cavity. A plurality of prongs on the collar holds the gemstone in place. A plurality of ancillary gemstones are generally vertically oriented and extend between the base and the collar and serve to admit light into the pavilion of the gemstone thereby enhancing the appearance of the gemstone.

Each of the examples of the prior art suffers from the disadvantage that when the prior art gemstone and setting which typically are purchased as an engagement ring are worn with a wedding band. The prior art gemstone setting prevents the wedding band from being worn closely spaced relative to the finger ring of the gemstone.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a finger ring with a gemstone setting which can be worn with a wedding ring in a convenient manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a finger ring with a gemstone setting which can be worn with a wedding band with the wedding band closely spaced relative to the finger ring of the gemstone setting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a finger ring with a gemstone setting in which elements of the gemstone setting are curved to allow close contact with an associated wedding band when worn.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a finger ring with a gemstone setting which can be worn with a wedding ring in a manner which presents a common aesthetic appearance where the wedding ring and the finger ring of the gemstone setting are nestled together when worn.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a finger ring with a gemstone setting made according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a finger ring with a gemstone setting made according to the prior art showing the prior art gemstone together with a wedding band and showing the gap between the prior art gemstone setting and the wedding band;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a finger ring with a gemstone setting made according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the finger ring with a gemstone setting of FIG. 3 showing a wedding band closely spaced to the finger ring of the gemstone setting;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the finger ring with a gemstone setting and the wedding band of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the finger ring with a gemstone setting of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the finger ring with a gemstone setting of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the finger ring with a gemstone setting of FIG. 1 showing the alternative embodiment gemstone setting with wedding bands and with the wedding band on the side of the finger ring with a gemstone setting and in substantial abutment to the finger ring of the finger ring with a gemstone setting;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the finger ring with a gemstone setting of FIG. 8 with a pair of wedding bands;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the finger ring with a gemstone setting of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the finger ring with a gemstone setting of FIG. 9 shown with a single wedding band.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is shown in FIG. 3 a finger ring with a gemstone setting 10 which includes a finger ring 12 and a plurality of projecting prongs 14 which form part of a gemstone setting 32. The prongs 14 project upwardly from finger ring 12. Upper portions 16 of the prongs 14 include notched portions 18 which are proportioned to accept the girdle 20 of a gemstone 22 and inwardly directed tabs 24 which aid in retaining the gemstone 22.

When viewed from the side as in FIG. 3, the finger ring 12 is seen on edge and the prongs 14 are seen to sweep or flare outwardly relative to the finger ring 12, thereby providing a key feature of the present invention. The outwardly flared portions 24, 26 of the prongs 14 allow the gemstone 22 to be supported above the top surface 28 of a wedding band 30 thereby allowing the wedding band 30 to be worn in closely spaced relationship with the finger ring 12 as is shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the gemstone setting 12 according to the present invention 10 includes a pair of horizontal members 34, 36 which connect portions of adjacent prongs 14. The horizontal members 34, 36 are disposed adjacent to the girdle 20 of the gemstone 22. The horizontal members 34, 36 support the prongs 14 and provide a rigid setting for the gemstone 22. The horizontal members 34, 36 are disposed generally perpendicularly to the circular plane 68 of the finger ring 12 as shown in FIG. 5. The four prongs 14 are identified for convenience by the reference numerals 38, 40, 42, 44 and the horizontal member 34 connect prongs 38 and 40, while the horizontal member 36 connects the prongs 42 and 44.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a pair of buttress members 46, 48 which extend from intermediate points 50, 52 on the finger ring 12. The upper ends 54, 56 of the buttress members 46, 48 are connected to the horizontal members 34, 36. The buttress members 46, 48 provide support for the horizontal members 34, 36 and contribute to the security of the gemstone setting 32.

The upper surfaces 58, 60 of the buttress members 46, 48 may have decorative treatments including the attachment of various gemstones 62, 64 thereby enhancing the overall brilliance of the gemstone setting 32 and adding to the attractiveness of apparatus according to the present invention 10.

FIGS. 8-11 show an alternative embodiment of the invention 100 in which the horizontal members 34, 36 shown in FIGS. 3-7 are eliminated. As shown in FIGS. 8-11, the prongs 102, 104 are of extended length and the prongs 102, 104 are outwardly swooped or flared enabling the gemstone 106 to extend over the top 130 of the wedding band as is shown in FIG. 8. The buttress members 132, 134 shown in FIGS. 8-11 include gemstones 110, 112 which add to the overall brilliance of the embodiment 100. As is shown in FIG. 8, the prongs 102, 104 present a concave portions 114, 116 facing the wedding bands 118, 120 and allow the wedding bands 118, 120 to fit closely against the ring 122. FIG. 9 shows a top view of the pair of wedding bands 118, 120 fitting closely against the ring 122.

The outwardly flared configuration of the prongs 38, 40, 42, 44 of FIGS. 3-7 and the prongs 102, 104 of FIGS. 8-11 provides generally concave portions 66, 68, 114, 116 which are formed by the prongs 38, 40, 42, 44, 114, 116. The concave portions 38, 40, 42, 44, 114, 116 facilitate the close spacing of the wedding bands 118, 120 as is shown in FIG. 9. This is in marked contrast to the typical gemstone settings 200 of the prior art as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the prongs 202, 204 are generally convex thereby preventing close spacing of the wedding band 205 and result in an unwanted gap 208 between the wedding ring 210 and the engagement ring 212 as is shown in FIG. 2.

It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the use of prongs to retain the gemstone. The gemstone retaining means may include various gemstone retaining means which have been shown in the prior art referenced hereinabove as well as in references cited therein with these gemstone retaining means modified according to the present invention to provide a concave and outwardly flared portion adjacent to the supporting finger ring.

The various specific embodiments of the present invention are for illustrative purposes only. Various changes and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

1. A gemstone setting adapted for mounting on a ring member with said ring member defining a plane comprising at least one retaining means for retaining a gemstone with said retaining means projecting from a selected portion of said ring member, said retaining means flaring outwardly relative to said plane defined by said ring member, with said retaining means further comprising an upper portion having means for mounting a gemstone, said retaining means comprising a plurality of prongs having a lower portion on an outwardly facing surface being concavely curved, said outwardly facing surface allowing close contact with an associated ring adjacent the ring member.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. The gemstone setting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of prongs is four in number.
 5. The gemstone setting as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a pair of elongated bar members with each of said elongated bar members connecting adjacent upper portions of said prongs.
 6. The gemstone setting as claimed in claim 5 wherein each of said elongated bar members is disposed generally perpendicular to said plane defined by said ring member.
 7. The gemstone setting as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a pair of retainer members each mounted on said ring member with each of said retainer members disposed proximate to one of said elongated bar members.
 8. (canceled)
 9. The gemstone setting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of prongs are two in number.
 10. (canceled)
 11. (canceled)
 12. The gemstone setting as claimed in claim 5 further comprising buttress members connecting said elongated bar members and said ring member.
 13. The gemstone setting as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a pair of buttress members projecting from said ring member.
 14. The gemstone setting as claimed in claim 13 wherein said buttress members each comprise means for mounting a gemstone on said buttress members. 